28 March 2024
The Asian Development Bank interview: Yongping Zhai, head of energy section
Publication date: 30 July 2019
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With over USD 5 billion in loans and other concessions to energy projects in 2018, energy ranks high on the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) priority list. In fact, the energy sector consistently outranks other sectors in attracting ADB funding – accounting for 24% of the bank’s entire USD 22 billion in capital commitments in 2018, and including a number of gas projects. However, the make-up of this energy investment is under increasing pressure from the climate agenda. As of October 2018 the ADB introduced a shadow carbon price of USD 36.30/ton – increasing 2% pa - in its project economic analysis model. Yet the ADB is not as hostile towards fossil fuels as its European counterparts, or the World Bank. Gas Matters speaks to Yongping Zhai, head of energy section at the Asian Development Bank, to ask how the ADB sees the investment profile of gas evolving over the coming decade.